Comments on Fuji rangefinders, alternatives in MF?

[mathomas]

I love my Fuji GW690III. It's easy to carry, handle, and shoot (don't worry about the lack of a meter, you can shoot sunny 16 easily). Besides, why shoot "half" of a MF negative? Get that BGN 690 from KEH.

 

[ottluuk]

Lots of useful responses here - thanks everyone! I've had some time to think this thing over (and will have some more while I finish the project that delivers the necessary $$$ for this whole MF venture. Gotta love office work when it really drags :bang: )

I've pretty much made up my mind to get one of those Fuji 690s. I think I can stretch my budget far enough to get a nice user GW II. Not exactly cheap or compact but you hardly hear anything breaking on them and you can't argue with the negative size. I've realized that should I go with 645 now and like it, I'll lust for 6x7/9 in no time. I'll have to carry a bit more, but it's not THAT heavy, after all. Pretty much like a 40D + extra battery and two small lenses, I think, just all in one piece.

Besides, I kind of want a vacation from all the glorious hi-tech. No battery, no meter, no TTL viewing - sounds good to me. I'll probably get a Sekonic L-208 to go with it when funds allow.

 

[Texsport]

Weight issue? I think somebody needs to man up if they think 4.4 lbs is "too heavy".

Pump some iron dude!

Fujica 690 series is the way to go.

Texsport

 

[ottluuk]

Weight issue? I think somebody needs to man up if they think 4.4 lbs is "too heavy".

Pump some iron dude!

---

Nice attitude, man. I hope you do realize that you kind of start to feel those couple of extra pounds if you hike 2-3 days over rough terrain with 10-15kg of non-photo gear on your back. It's not like I can't lift the damned thing. There's simply a limit of how much extra discomfort I'm willing to endure to bring along a fixed-lens camera that can only take 8 frames on a roll of 120. In this context, the GW690 is pretty heavy.

I've had some military training not so long ago. We used to run around the woods with 20+kg of gear plus assault rifles, machine guns, grenade launchers, whatever. Totally doable. Not Fun. Lugging along a 690 will definitely not be as fun as hiking with the featherweight GRD-III. I just hope that the image quality will make up that difference.

I will now resume my quiet life of not pumping much iron 🙄

 

[Texsport]

Nice attitude, man. I hope you do realize that you kind of start to feel those couple of extra pounds if you hike 2-3 days over rough terrain with 10-15kg of non-photo gear on your back. It's not like I can't lift the damned thing. There's simply a limit of how much extra discomfort I'm willing to endure to bring along a fixed-lens camera that can only take 8 frames on a roll of 120. In this context, the GW690 is pretty heavy.

I've had some military training not so long ago. We used to run around the woods with 20+kg of gear plus assault rifles, machine guns, grenade launchers, whatever. Totally doable. Not Fun. Lugging along a 690 will definitely not be as fun as hiking with the featherweight GRD-III. I just hope that the image quality will make up that difference.

I will now resume my quiet life of not pumping much iron 🙄

Fair enough, but how many people who might use such a camera hike across the world?

Most use is from a car, to the picture taking site, and back.

I enjoy a substantial camera in hand to help prevent camera shake when I'm not using a tripod. And, the larger 6x9 negative maximizes my possibilities for capturing a useful image.

If I were going to mountain climb, I'd likely take something lighter...of course.

Texsport

 

[skibeerr]

I've got Renzu's GW690III and it is great. It is a well used camera and what I paid is in your range.

He removed the slide lens hood which I do not like and it now has a screw in lens hood. If you get one you will see why.

It weighs 1,5kg and tough it is very big I find this no problem and I carry it in a hip belt Lowepro bag which combines well with backpacks if you carry it on your belly above your backpack hip belt.

Some people modeling for you might find the lens a tad to sharp 🙂

 

[ottluuk]

Some people modeling for you might find the lens a tad to sharp 🙂

Nothing that some caffeine-induced camera shake can't cure, I hope 😀

 

[AgentX]

Fair enough, but how many people who might use such a camera hike across the world?

Most use is from a car, to the picture taking site, and back.

🙄

 

[ChrisN]

Your budget is the hardest criterion to meet. With $400 I'd take the GA645. I have one and have always been very pleased with the results. The autofocus is fine. The only issue with it is that I can't effectively use my polariser and grad ND filters.

How about a Hasselblad 500 C/M with a 50 Distagon lens? That's 30mm equivalent, and you can crop the square to either rectangular format - horizontal or vertical. With the waist-level finder the weight isn't too bad, and there's no batteries to chill. The separate magazine would be a good thing in sub-zero weather - spares make changing film a lot easier. Grad ND and polariser filters work fine because you are viewing through the lens.

The Pentax 645 would be a good choice too, but I think it's heavier and battery-dependent. The lenses aren't as cheap now with the 645D coming on to the market, but that does give you a MF digital upgrade path once you have a set of lenses.

 

[tonal1]

well…

well…

I feel for you because I have been at the same crossroads.

First of all, are you planning to leave the dslr's at home?

Second, you sound as if you may be focusing primarily on B&W??

I'll make some assumptions.

You're going to be gone a long time, and you are not crazy, so you don't want a burdensome camera, but image quality is paramount.

Personally, I would stay away from the 645 fuji's. Bronica is OK.

Later Fuji 6x9 fantastic if not your only camera. Big,heavy, slow.

$400? KONICA HEXAR AF. You can get it from KEH for that price.

Even better:$700? CONTAX G2 W/ 35MM LENS

Best: sell everything else and buy a Leica M6 and a used Voigtlander 35mm lens. One camera, one mind.

Adventure is served best with a Leica. 🙂

 

[tonal1]

p.s. I love Fuji 6X9's but it's a love hate thing. They really are terrific, but I found because of the longer focal length, that I wanted to shoot at least at f/16 most of the time, which meant I need faster film, lots of light, or a tripod.

I ended up working on the edge a lot, so I had this great big neg, but I found myself shooting at 1/60th hand-held often… not a recipe for sharp negs. In general I feel better off with really good 35mm glass. But I still loves me the Fuji 690's…

 

[ChrisC]

........I've pretty much made up my mind to get one of those Fuji 690s........

Ott - You can do a lot worse than the Fuji 6x9, I have owned a lot of fantastic large format and medium format rangefinder lenses and my Fuji 6x9's resolution was as good as my best lenses. The biggest weakness in your imaging chain is now your reticence to use a tripod.

.......... Chris

 

[AgentX]

I didn't mention before because you've said you're set on the Fuji, but I just have to say this in case you're not quite committed: Mamiya C220 (or an old C3) are pretty light and the 65mm lens is really excellent. Might meet your criteria for a really low price; very flexible cameras.

Love the big Fujis, but the shape and bulk are very awkward to carry IMHO, at least compared to the largish but boxlike TLR shape.

 

[ottluuk]

I feel for you because I have been at the same crossroads.

First of all, are you planning to leave the dslr's at home?

Second, you sound as if you may be focusing primarily on B&W??

I'll make some assumptions.

You're going to be gone a long time, and you are not crazy, so you don't want a burdensome camera, but image quality is paramount.

Personally, I would stay away from the 645 fuji's. Bronica is OK.

Later Fuji 6x9 fantastic if not your only camera. Big,heavy, slow.

$400? KONICA HEXAR AF. You can get it from KEH for that price.

Even better:$700? CONTAX G2 W/ 35MM LENS

Best: sell everything else and buy a Leica M6 and a used Voigtlander 35mm lens. One camera, one mind.

Adventure is served best with a Leica. 🙂

Nah, not going to go back to 35mm film. I know what I can get with a sharp, well-corrected lens on 35mm and it's fine and all but not worth the trouble compared to shooting APS-C digital. For me, the lure of film is now only in the larger formats, and that's why 6x9 sounds good.

I'm keeping the SLR set, and obviously, when the situation calls it, will use that with no regrets.

 

[tonal1]

Nah, not going to go back to 35mm film. I know what I can get with a sharp, well-corrected lens on 35mm and it's fine and all but not worth the trouble compared to shooting APS-C digital. For me, the lure of film is now only in the larger formats, and that's why 6x9 sounds good.

I'm keeping the SLR set, and obviously, when the situation calls it, will use that with no regrets.

Oh, OK. That makes it easy then. Since you know what you're getting into, grab yourself a Fuji 690. Great, great, cameras. Price is down lately too. $450 for a user GW690 II with a 90mm should be doable.

 

[furcafe]

Just another data point: I use the Fuji GW670III & have found that not only is the lens plenty sharp @ f/3.5, but it's not difficult to handhold down @ "Leica-like" speeds, like 1/15th sec. Obviously, YMMV.

I agree that they are big, but they're really not that heavy (certainly lighter than your typical medium format SLR).

p.s. I love Fuji 6X9's but it's a love hate thing. They really are terrific, but I found because of the longer focal length, that I wanted to shoot at least at f/16 most of the time, which meant I need faster film, lots of light, or a tripod.

I ended up working on the edge a lot, so I had this great big neg, but I found myself shooting at 1/60th hand-held often… not a recipe for sharp negs. In general I feel better off with really good 35mm glass. But I still loves me the Fuji 690's…

 

[sper]

I just bought a GA645 for $250 dollars. They're great!

 

[iamzip]

I just bought a GA645 for $250 dollars. They're great!

That's a very good price. I wouldn't deliberately put one through any abuse, but I have dropped mine several times with no problems.

 

[JohnTF]

Have most of these, the GSW690 is big, but not that heavy, and solidly built. I like the 6x9 format, but you may have to scan or print yourself, many places can only go to 6x7 for processing. Have seen the Graflexes for as low as $125 with 6x9 back at a show, I shipped it off to a student friend.

Sounds as if the GA645Zi might be a good choice, sharp lens, small size, don't know about the price, but often the price has to do with patience and luck.

Fuji's whole MF series has been impressive to me.

 

[JohnTF]

Makes sense to me. 6 x 9 or 6 x 7. Personally, I would not get any 6 x 4.5. It is basically stepping up to larger film and then getting a half-frame camera.

Cheers,
Gary

645 can be had in a very pocket-able camera and produce very good quality prints easily to 11x14-- the kind of quality associated with MF.

You can keep going to 6x17 as well. ;-) Does not fit the pocket though.

John